A vociferous protest against big dams reaches its crucial stage when union environment minister Jairam Ramesh was greeted with protest as he was arriving in Guwahti for a public hearing on the NHPC owned big dam in Arunachal Pradesh.
As the Union minister started the public hearing at Machkhowa, ITA, hundreds of local organizations and political parties approached him to register stiff protest again the on going construction of the big dam in Gerukamukh by NHPC in the name of the lower Subansiri hydel project. Citing the expert panel report, these parties and organisations have told the minister that the big dam might spell an ecological disaster for the people in down stream areas.
PermalinkSubmitted by Hayang on Wed, 29/09/2010 - 05:16
--Lame Excuse by NHPC CMD S.K. Garg--
Despite strident protests in Assam with environmental concerns over construction of mega dams, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Chairman-cum-Managing Director S.K. Garg says that the project builders plan to commission three units in March 2012 and the remaining five units by December 2012. This is because Rs 4000 crore of the Rs 9000 crore project has been utilized. That means 40% of the expenses have been made. But is this a reason enough to sacrifice environment and the population of downstream areas which cannot be compensated even if the Indian central government bring all the riches in the world. When land is lost, existence is lost. When existence is lost, the very right to our natural habitat is lost.
In the devastating floods caused by the Tehri dam in Uttarakhand, the central government has promised a package of Rs 500 crore to the state government. That means every year there will be floods, the Indian government will dole out Rs 500 crore. So, within 8 years, Rs 4000 crore will have to be shelved out. If this is the economics involved, Rs 4000 crore is nothing for a rich country like India where many politicians and ministers have pocketed hundreds and thousands of crores. So, the justification of Rs 4000 crore by S.K. Garg sounds to be a lame excuse to keep the industrial corporations who fund the elections happy and satisfied.
Good news. Altogether eight candidates from Assam have cleared the Civil Service Examination, 2008 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. The Commission has already announced the results of the examination on Monday.According to information, Barnali Dutta, Ashiq-uj-Jaman, Biswajit Pegu, Prakash Borgohain, Pritom Dutta, Shiladitya Chetia, Padmapani Bora, Pallavika Dutta anbd Pallavi Goswami. Details awaited.
Gossaigaon BPPF president Birbhushan Narzary died on Monday morning at the GNRC Hospital in Guwahati where he was admitted five days ago after some unidentified miscreants attacked him in the Gossaigaon town. Hospital sources said, Narzary, the vice principal of the Tulsibeel Higher Secondary School died at around 6 in the morning.He was shot by some miscreants on April 29 on his way to the hospital and was rushed to the GNRC Hospital for better treatment. His body was sent back to Gossaigaon based family members.The incident could escalate tension in the burning BTAD areas.
Properties worth several lakhs gutted when a devastating fire broke out near Fancy Bazar area in Guwahati on Monday. According to information, the incident took place at the Guwahati Police Reserve at around 11 in the morning. The reason has yet to be ascertained but it is suspected to be due to electric short circuit. As the fire broke out several LPG cylinders exploded and thus the fire was rapidly spreading in the area. As many as twelve fire tenders were called to bring the situation under control. These fire tenders took almost two and a half hours to douse the fire. The extent of damage has yet to be ascertained. Investigation in on. Top ranked police and civil officials have reached...
An ULFA rebel died, another injured during a heavy gun battle wit security forces in upper Assam's Golaghat district on Sunday afternoon. The deceased was identified ass Deep Gogoi from Bhojo in Sivasagar.According to information, acting on a tip off, police, army and CPRF jawans conducted a search operation at the residence of one Purna Saikia of Biya Koruwa gaon in the afternoon and thus the encounter came up. The ULFA rebels started firing at the army and CRPF jawans. When retaliated by police, army and CRPF jawans, one of the rebels tried to lob a grenade at them but it went off by accident and thus he died on the spot. Others in the group, however, managed to escape from the spot....
Minoti and Sunita performed for a mega fundraising event at the hitoric Shanmughanada Auditorium in Mumbai recently.The concert was named "Privilege" in aid of the Don Bosco Shelter, Mumbai which takes care of hundreds of street children. Minoti and Sunita shared the stage with a host of other celebrities who performed that day starting from Latino drummer Bondo, to Manasi Scott, mona Singh and Oscar winning choreographer Longinus.The chief guest for the function was Boman Irani, chief patron of the don Bosco Shelter.Father Barnabe head of the Shelter while thanking all the artists made a special mention of the efforts of Sunita and Minoti for contributing towards the event. Sunita has been...
A day after the deadly attack, the tiny village at Maibong in North Cachar is grappling with fear. The death toll in the Dimasa village at Yah has reached 4 and more than 40 houses were gutted when some unidentified armed men started indiscriminate firing at the villagers in the after on Tuesday. As the villagers started leaving for safer places, the miscreants set on fire several houses.Four deaths have so far been confirmed. The toll could go up as more than five persons have been remaining untraced since Tuesday. Three of the deceased were identified as Joilo Langthasa, Aasom Langthasa and Maila Thousan.Meanwhile, deployment of security forces have yet to allay the fears that grips the...
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday reviewed the preparedness to tackle swine flu in view of the spread of the deadly virus beyond Mexico. Official sources said Gogoi held talk with his top ranked officers at his chambers and has instructed them to remain alert. The meeting further decided to start an awareness drive among the people.
Meanwhile, Assam veterinary department has issued a set of instructions to the pig breeding farms acorss the state to maintain caution in wake of the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico. The department has asked managers of the farm to monitor the health of the animal in Khanapara, Morigaon, Kochdhuwa, Kopahtoli, Gargaon, Bajalbari, Khanikar, Diphu,...
Two NDFB rebels and prime accused in the Guwahati serial blasts on october 30 died at an encounter with a police and Army Kokrajhar district on Wednesday.
According to information, acting on some specific inputs, police and army were carrying out a joint operation at Bhalukjhora village where the encounter came up in the wee hours. The two National Democratic Front of Bodoland militants failed to escape and started firing at the police and Armymen. When retaliated, both of the rebels died on the spot at around 3.00 am.
Talking to reporters, Commanding Officer Hitesh Bhalla of Eleven Maratha Regiment, which conducted the search operation with police, said the two NDFB extremists were...
The Assamese community in Muscat has grown day by day and at present more than 35 families are living in Oman. The community has been celebrating the Rongali Bihu since long time and this year it was celebrated on 8th April with much enthusiasm & fun. An evening cultural program was organized by Axom Xamaj, Muscat at Sur Hall – a big hall of Hotel Holiday Inn – a 4 star category hotel at the heart of Muscat. The function started in evening & continued till past midnight. About 150 persons attended the function. The Assamese community in large numbers along with some other Indian families & some foreign guests also participated in the glittering evening.People thoroughly enjoyed...
The Asom Association, Kuwait (AAK) organized “Zubeen Nite”, its inaugural “Rongali Bihu” celebrations on 10th April, 2009. His Excellency Ajai Malhotra, Ambassador, Embassy of India, Kuwait graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Chief Guest, Ajai Malhotra and the Guest of Honour Zubeen Garg, prominent singer from India, were felicitated with a bouquet and “Gamusa” presented by Miss Mamta Pradhan, Miss Sneha Khound, Miss Rabbab Rabbani and Miss Indrani Rajkhowa respectively. Garima Garg, Zubeen’s wife, was also felicitated with a bouquet by Miss Prachi Nath.The programme commenced with the lighting of the Inaugural Lamp by His Excellency Ajai...
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